Friday, July 02, 2004

It seems that Judge Rodney Melville, who is presiding over the pre trial hearings of Michael Jackson's child molestation charges, feels that the amount of evidence in the public domain is excessive.

"Extolling" the spirit of "freedom of speech", that is the moral backbone to the USA's political and legal system; Judge Melville is reported to have said yesterday (Thursday), that he wants to avoid media reporting and analysis of the evidence.

The Judge did release a large number of search warrant request forms, that are reported to show the extent of the nationwide search for evidence including; searches of banks, shops and the internet.

However, three key pieces of information were missing from this pre trial "appetiser":

1 The identity of the accounts being searched

2 What was being searched for

3 What was found

Judge Melville is reported to believe that any information revealed, would be subject to intense scrutiny and analysis by the media. This in turn could possibly contaminate the potential jury pool.

Whilst there is a semblance of logic in what he says, by performing a "teasing strip show" with the evidence will only stir up speculation and rumour. The media will go into a frenzy of speculation, causing people to conclude that "there is no smoke without fire"; and forming a judgement before the trial has even started.

I would say, from my humble perspective of being "the man in the street", that this will probably do more damage than good to the chances of conducting a fair trial; it will also taint the image of the American legal system as a whole.

Needless to say attorney Theodore Boutrous, the media's lawyer, has a different perspective to that of Judge Melville.

Thursday, July 01, 2004

It seems that the ghosts of the past are haunting the upcoming trial of Michael Jackson.

There are reports circulating, that current and former employees of Michael Jackson are afraid to come forward and testify at Michael Jackson's trial; as a result of the treatment meted out to those employees, who came forward in relation to the 1993 allegations.

It seems that 5 employees, who worked with the authorities, were dismissed by Jackson after the 1993 allegations. They took their case to court, and claimed wrongful dismissal.

In the case they noted that there was a culture of fear in Neverland, and that the atmosphere was more akin to a cult.

They further alleged that Michael Jackson's private security service (the OSS), bugged phones and threatened those that talked to the press.

The employees, who brought the claim for wrongful dismissal, lost their case; the jury felt that they were trying to extort money. However, reports in the media are speculating about the effect that this has had on those who may have information pertinent to the current allegations against Michael Jackson.

Wednesday, June 30, 2004

It seems that yesterday the lawyers acting for Michael Jackson, in respect of his upcoming trial for child molestation, did something rather strange.

Robert Sanger, Jackson's defence lawyer, asked the judge presiding to seal certain motions relating to the case. One of these is reported to be their own request to have the charges against Michael Jackson dismissed.

It seems that their rationale was that, if the documents were made public, then possible evidence would be disclosed that may not be used at the trial.

Now I am not lawyer, but I have to confess I find this a little strange. It has already been widely reported that they wish to try to have the charges against Michael Jackson dismissed; what possible benefit can it be to them to have this covered up, after the event?

It seems to me that the three wise monkeys would be well placed to be involved, in both the prosecution and defence of Jackson, viz:

Hear no evil

See no evil

Speak no evil

Needless to say, the lawyers acting for the media are already reported to be "fired up" at this further threat to the "public's right to know"; news ratings as well may come in to their thinking too, methinks.

The level of secrecy threatening to engulf the trial of Michael Jackson is more akin to standard procedure in UK trials, rather than the "freedom of expression and information society" of the USA.

Tuesday, June 29, 2004

At last Friday's hearing, on the never ending saga of the Michael Jackson trial, Judge Rodney Melville in addition to keeping the sealing order in place made a couple of other announcements.

He ordered that Michael Jackson's previous lawyers, Mark Geragos and Benjamin Brafman, turn over various documents and information (the details of which were not made public)to Jackson's current legal eagles.

It is not clear as to whether there is a problem with regard to them handing the information over. However, Judge Melville did make it clear that if they did not comply with this order; he would require Mark Geragos to appear before him at the hearing, scheduled for the 9th of July.

The judge also set another date for yet another hearing, on the subject of Michael Jackson's trial, this time for the 16th of August. This will be of particular interest to fans of Michael Jackson, as the judge requested that Michael Jackson has to turn up to this one.

Monday, June 28, 2004

Judge Rodney Melville, who is presiding over the pre trial hearing in the Michael Jackson child molestation case, is reported to have admitted on Friday that the global media interest in the case would make it very difficult for Michael Jackson to get a fair trial.

This came about as the media lawyers fought to make more details of the case public, whilst the prosecution and defence teams unified to keep further details from entering the public domain.

Judge Melville ruled against making further documents public; on the grounds that it could prejudice a fair trial for Jackson, when his case comes to court in September.

The defence team pushed to have the case dismissed through lack of evidence. The next hearing is scheduled for July the 9th, unless the defence get their way and have it thrown out.

After that there will be another session on the 16th of August, when the judge will decide what evidence can be shown to the jury.

A handful of fans reportedly turned up to the hearing; protesting Jackson's innocence, and declaring that he was put on earth to do something special.